Major Collection of Old Masters Goes Under the Hammer at Sotheby’s Paris

Anne Vallayer-Coster Portrait of a Woman with Violin (1773) Photo: Sotheby's

Sotheby’s Paris has announced the sale of the Louis Grandchamp des Raux collection of French 17th and 18th century paintings, Art Daily reports. According to the auction house, this is the most significant collection of paintings from the period to hit the auction block in two decades.

The fifty piece-collection includes works from some of the era’s most notable artists, including François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, François Desportes, Louyse Moillon, Anne Vallayer-Coster and Hubert Robert as well as works by more obscure names such as Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié and Pierre-Antoine Lemoine.

Some of the highlights from the sale include Portrait of a Woman with Violin (1773) by Anne Vallayer-Coster, which has been estimated at between €300,000 to €400,000. Known almost exclusively for her still-life painting, the artwork is one of the few known portraits painted by the artist. Vallayer-Coster was one of the few female artists to gain critical acceptance in a profession that was dominated by men.

The sale also includes some major works by northern European artists such as Still Life with Grapes, Cherries and Strawberry Plant by the German Isaak Soreau, estimated at €150,000 to €200,000; and Still Life with Peaches, Plums and Grapes in a Basket on a Table by the Flemish Jacob van Hulsdonck, estimated at €250,000 to €300,000.

Louis Grandchamp des Raux accumulated his seminal collection over the course of 25 years with the help of the expert Eric Turquin, who told Art Daily “The sale of this collection of paintings is tremendously exciting.”

The auction takes place on March 26, 2015 in Paris.


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.
  • Access the data behind the headlines with the artnet Price Database.
Article topics